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Welcome!
With Healthy Kids Dental benefits administered by Delta Dental, your child can receive dental services at no cost to you! This includes dental exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and more.
- Find the member handbook, certificate of coverage, and more here.
- If your children have Medicaid and are under age 21, they have Healthy Kids Dental. Visit www.healthykidsdental.org.
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February is one of our favorite months. It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month!
A healthy smile can help kids with a lot, like eating their favorite foods and talking with their friends. A good oral health routine is the same for kids of any age: brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and regular visits to the dentist.
Did you know that children should see a dentist around their first birthday? The dentist can examine your child’s gums and any visible teeth to make sure everything is healthy. Starting dental visits early can also make for positive connections. This way, your child’s first trip to the dentist isn’t something painful or scary.
If you have a little one at home, consider these tips for a great oral health routine:
- No bottles in bed. Breast milk, juice, and formula have sugar and can lead to tooth decay. If your child needs a bottle to sleep, fill it with water (if age appropriate).
- Massage the gums. Use a damp washcloth to lightly massage your baby’s gums after each feeding or meal.
- Don’t spread germs. Don’t share the same cups or silverware with your child, as it can spread germs and bacteria.
- Offer teething relief. Give your baby a cool teething ring, the back of a cold spoon, or a cold wet washcloth to help with teething pain.
- Use the right pacifiers and bottles. Different types of nipples can affect muscles in your baby’s mouth. Talk to a dentist about which type to use at which age.
Delta Dental has care coordinators who are specially trained to help caregivers break down barriers to care, including those related to physical and mental health disabilities.
Call our team at 866-696-7441 for help finding a dentist for routine or specialty care. They can help find a dentist for your child and/or foster child, including those with health issues.
Early intervention and prevention are important for better oral and overall health. Learn more about overall wellness here. You can also find resources at www.michigan.gov/mdhhs.
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What does your child want to be when they grow up? Do you have a future sports star? An accountant? A teacher? An entrepreneur? The possibilities are endless! When it comes to a future in dental, there are different types of dental doctors.
A dental hygienist is not a doctor, but an important part of our oral health care team! They can help keep our teeth clean, and protect us from cavities and gum disease. They use lots of dental tools and take X-rays of our mouth. The hygienist works closely with the dentist to keep us in good health. To become a hygienist, you must go to college and then get hands-on training.
A dentist is a type of doctor who is trained to take care of your mouth, teeth, and gums. To become a dentist, you must go to college and then a special dental school. In school, you’ll learn how to use tools to clean teeth, fill cavities, and much more.
An orthodontist knows all about your teeth, including how to straighten them. Sometimes when adult teeth grow in, they do not line up just right. An orthodontist can put braces (special wires) on your teeth that will help them to straighten over time. To become an orthodontist, you must go to college, then to a dental school, and then to a special program to learn how teeth can move around and how that can affect your face and jaw.
A pediatric dentist is a type of dentist who learns how to take special care of kids’ teeth. They learn how to spot problems early on, and may send kids to see an orthodontist to help prevent problems. To become a pediatric dentist, you must go to college, then go to dental school, then a special program to learn all about caring for kids’ teeth.
Sometimes things can happen to your mouth that may require surgery. This is when you may see an oral surgeon, a special doctor who has learned all about your mouth, jaw, and teeth. To become an oral surgeon, you must go to college, then to dental school, then you must work in a special program in a hospital. All that training helps to make sure oral surgeons know all there is to performing surgery in our mouths.
To receive services at no cost to you, your child must see a Delta Dental HKD dentist. Find a dentist near you here.
- You can switch to another Delta Dental HKD dentist at any time.
- If you see a dentist who does not accept Delta Dental HKD, you may have to pay for services.
- If you are changing dental plans and have been diagnosed with or are being treated for a serious dental condition, call the Delta Dental team at 866-696-7441 (TTY users call 711). We can help you receive continued care.
Put a spin on family taco night with this easy and delicious recipe the whole family can enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 pound of lean ground beef
- ¾ cup water
- 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
- 4 (2.5 ounce) packages corn chips
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 chopped fresh tomato
- ½ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup salsa
Directions
- Cook and stir the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly for seven to 10 minutes.
- Drain excess oil.
- Mix in water and taco seasoning.
- Bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Gently crush corn chips in the sealed bags. Snip one top and one bottom corner off each bag, then cut open along the side edge.
- Spoon equal amounts of beef, lettuce, cheddar, tomato, sour cream, and salsa into each bag on top of crushed chips.
- Serve in the bag and eat using a fork.
Quick hits
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Update your contact information
Remember that you must update your contact information to requalify for Medicaid and Healthy Kids Dental benefits. Visit www.michigan.gov/mibridges to update your address, phone number, and other contact information.
Did you know?
With Healthy Kids Dental benefits administered by Delta Dental, your children can receive dental services at no cost to you. This includes dental exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and more!
Find the member handbook, certificate of coverage and more resources at www.deltadentalmi.com/HKD.
If your children have Medicaid and are under age 21, they have Healthy Kids Dental. Visit www.healthykidsdental.org.
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Reporting fraud, waste, or abuse
If you suspect someone of fraud, waste, or abuse, you can report this anonymously to Delta Dental by calling the Delta Dental anti-fraud hotline at 800-524-0147. Or you can report it to the State of Michigan by calling the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at 855-MI-FRAUD or by sending a letter to: Office of Inspector General, PO Box 30062, Lansing, MI 48909. You can also submit online here.
Review your member handbook for more information about fraud, waste, and abuse.
In your language
Get benefit help and information for you and/or your child in your language. Call our team at 866-696-7441 (TTY users call 711) for help.
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NOTICE: Effective May 1, 2024, prior authorization is required for deep cleanings, core build-ups and crowns. Your dentist needs to submit a Prior Authorization Request and send it to us if you need any of the above services. This is an update to information in the current Healthy Kids Dental handbook.